Memories of an aging nurse/patient

My two recent hospitalizations have stirred up many old memories for me. My first inspiration to enter nursing was provoked by a hospital visit, many years ago. I had a tubal pregnancy that ruptured, making quite a mess of my body and my personal life. Since the event also “ruptured” my marriage of ten years, I found myself a divorced mother of two small ones. There I was with a college education in liberal arts, which you really can’t take to the bank. I was desperately in need and hit the job trail. I got two jobs in one day, and like many of the vagaries of life, that decision proved to be pivotal. I chose the job as a medical assistant in an ENT office over the teller job at a bank.

When I was a small girl, my dream was always to become a nurse. I’m not sure what happened to that desire but it was reborn after that long ago surgical crisis. I was touched by the intimacy of nursing; the gentle kindness of those handmaidens of the sick and the dedication it would take to patiently perform acts which others might consider disgusting. To me, it was all fascinating and intriguing. The workings of the human body are still a wonder to me; sometimes to the extreme. Working for a group of doctors who worked in the field of ear, nose and throat was interesting, especially since two of them were also facial plastic surgeons. I fell in love with medicine all over again.

I soon realized I had to go back to school if I was to “get anywhere” and if I was going to support my children in the way I felt we all deserved. Even in the worst times of my life, I have been blessed with faith and the ability to see that glass as half-full. I always believed it would work out. It’s just the way my nature takes me. It seemed to be an impossible dream for me but I tackled it anyway. I was fortunate enough to get accepted into a program, immediately, and received, blessedly, several scholarships. I felt I was also teaching my children to go for their dreams and not to settle. I hate settling; always have.

The rest, as they say, is history. I worked my way through nursing school, doing without when we had to. The three years went by quickly and it was an effort my children and I shared as a common goal. I’m grateful for those years as a medical assistant, ward clerk, nurse’s aide and finally a registered nurse. When my career ended I was a Director of Nursing Services and proud to say I was one of those who often made rounds with my nurses and loved to wear a uniform and get my “hand in.” It has always been my experience that many of the best RN’s started out as certified nurse’s assistants, learning the beauty and discipline of taking care of the basic needs of a patient. They also learn compassion, technique and good nursing along the way. As nurses they also think twice before asking a CNA to walk the length of a hallway to fetch a warm blanket or bring fresh ice water to a patient when they could do it themselves.

I met many wonderful nurses over the last few weeks. Shanin was a soft-spoken night nurse with all the patience in the world, always kind; a young mother who always had a moment to chat or comfort. Another was a vivacious young woman named Jamie, who had just recovered from a terrifying and dangerous health condition and seemed to be revitalized by her own experience. Jennifer was a pleasant, intense new nurse to the local hospital, engaged to be married and carefully dedicated in all of her actions. I felt for her at times as she adjusted to her duties and learned to use the portable computer but still had a gentle smile and a patient way about her. She was meticulously careful in all things which I greatly appreciated. I don’t have time to list all of them here, but I found the tenor and the quality of care very high at our local, small hospital and was greatly relieved to do so. The much larger hospital in Portland did not come close to the standards I observed here in town for hand washing, timeliness in answering a call light or in consideration of the needs of the patient. Once again, this old nurse remembered why she had once fallen in love with the practice and dedication of nursing.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue Falkner-Wood

Sue Falkner-Wood is a retired registered nurse living in Astoria, Ore., with her husband, who is also an R.N. Sue left nursing in 1990 due to chronic pain and other symptoms related to what was eventually...read more

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